The Dickinson press., 1887-05-21
THE WITNESS.


During the month of February, 1858, Seth
Damon, of Acton. instituted an neiion ut
law against Gabriel Butt"rw0rtil, Of tl"s:ilnc
town, for the recov"ry OF l,G33 OF which he
claimed that said l;utterworth had d"fraullel
him. The circumstances were these:
But:orwor:h owned and Kept The principal
store in Acton, and though l." hal never hcpn
regarded as an exemplary gentleman, his
honor in business had l:ot leen ifipugmcd.
Tlose who had the f:.ei!t.v of loo.:ir.; upon
the undercurrui!tS %. l.;llan 0c.iu.is decided
that lie WAS u man not hou,:,l by honor, hut
who understood tie laws Of self interest too
well 10 l,c Gi!;&.' of small .na&tnesses i'll h1>-
ness, VIA. ic vas capable of doing on n
grand scale WAS not !noote,l until the occur
renee of which am about to speak.
Seth Damon has, removed from E.lson to
Acton in Tie fail, and had purchased the iron
works. Shortly after concluding the puy-
chase, hn had a payment of $3p.Go0 to make,
and late on ~ ;'atnr'lay afternoon he arrived
from New E"i'l: with the money, part of it
in ',anl; notes, and l,art uf it in goll. When
he arrived lle i'uuiG that the parties 10 whom
the money was to he pail had left town, and
would not return till Monday. Mr.. Butier-
worth hal the only reliable safety vault in
town, and t. him Damon took The :3oM@O,
asking permission to l".irc it in his vault over
the SahLotil. which permission was readily
and chacrf;llly sisr,ted.
During Sunday night the people OF The vii
iage werc areIlscl is The alarm Of fire; and,
upon starting ont, it was found that the
alarm came from Enttrworth's store, but
Mr. Hutternu!th hal been active. He had
discovered IL" fire i'll season. and with the
assistance ',f his hoy;', had pnt it out hefnrc
much damage had been done. Upon looking
over the pryinsrs it was olin,l that III" tire.
had NOT only been the Wort. ot nj: iMccndiary,
but t.ia- il hal been set in several different
places.
How Fortunate said the owner, 'that
discovered it in season.
But v",,y aoon another discovery was made
The safety vault had been broken open and
every dollar it Ind contained stolen. Here
was alarm and CONSERVATION. Gabriel But
terwortl sePi,tel fit tn so crazy.
"l7or myself care not. e cried. "a few
hundreds were al l ha'l in there; but my
friend had q great SUM"
Immediately search for the ro',l,cr or rob
bers was instituted, ard word Was sent far
and near to all s!l,riiTs n;!l theii deputies,
md to the police of the citins.
Now it had so happened that Oh that very
Sunday evening, or, may say, Sunday night,
!, John Watson, ha'l been returnin, from lny
brothers. i'll lpuMstabr. had left my hired
team at the stable and un my way to INV
boarding housc passed the store of Nh, But
terw":tl. In the back yard of the store was
Il hors. trough. al. Icing thirsty, step,mt
aro.;ni that way to s.i Il raugt of water.
As s.ooil to drink at the spout of tho fo;:n-
tain saw q a,lcam of light through crc>-i..,
in til" shutters If ono OF the store windows.
Curiosity i!i:lell'l NE TO 90 and l,eci throu;h :
for lolnlo.c,l ,,!n could be in there at that
hour of n Sunday night Tho crevice was
quite large, made by wearing away of the
edges of the shutters wllcr" they had been
caught ly the hooks that hel! them ijf.cl;
when Open. and through it | loolti into The
store. | ioo:-l u,,oil Ia" wall within which
the SAFETY v;.!l' w;,S l,liilt. and: | saw the
vault open, ;.,i | s@'i Gabriel Butterwoitl
ut work t!tlei:,. ] saw him pnt large pack
ages into his brra., pocket and / saw him
bring ont two or thln" small canvas ha.s,
and set Then, on the hoor by the door that
opened toward his dwelling. rs saw him
approaching this ciltal' ,,o,r second time
Thought he Knight cotle oHt, afl ! went iyu,-.
1t was an liGt.:' aft ward ;aat | heard the
alarm of fire. And it WAS not until tho fol
lowing lnorilin;, that heard of til. robbery
of the safe.
was placed in a critical position, but | had
n duty 20 perform. ! went to Mr. Damon,
and toll him what had seen: and also gave
him liberty to cell upon lils. for nay testimony
in lu,lic ;,ll' lie should nca.i it, Until |
slouI(, ltc called Upon w;.s 10 inll my silence.
While tAe officers were naiiIs iiithc. and
lh''s'ef MI Di'ii'2'' .ci'' :: 9'i'tt "ateh upon
tne i!osel''i'9' e. -'t'' i'd's"fwp!th' ami IL
ieis'h oe'''le'i hlii' III inc icl oil a,'osit!ii9
!ai'Se sum oil ii9.4'' Il! Il p.n'i III built;io.
bltinE"ot'h was liz II '''FStea
this Is Il!c way matters stood Wien was
sahl!iio.lei 70 "a az ''ie ,ec grand Julyat
1lt"lbjlrs. Welt tl;'re III company with
Mr' laihoh' a,' sS'-@''Hi !oisalss at the
sabine h"us". IL "t.' II small nm, Wei ana
con'i'rtaNiE !i'l' am. m !''':4fed i'y patrons
ct moderate means lht r. #ere two public
house OF more ii"iif'i'!e li'stfsiols in TIE
place
=, So: .''s' ''
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Bu,terwort man Of ct,,,r..L.,,,,i ,.,. Iowa
too late t, c-t n room viii . s+o,. j., i. n,,',
worse stil ,nust take >, cn,y, VIII; ti,a,,